The Ancient Technology Centre is run by enthusiastic and dedicated staff and volunteers who all believe passionately in “education by doing”.  In recent years our volunteer numbers have increased and their broad range of skills and knowledge greatly enhance the site.

Our staff diversity enable us to deliver quality sessions over a range of time periods and to develop new and exciting activities based on historical and archaeological evidence.

ATC staff are listed below with a brief outline of their areas of interest, training, or developed skills.  

Luke Winter (ATC manager and tutor)

Luke joined the centre in 2002, his background as a field archaeologist and experimental research archaeologist has helped him to take evidence from the ground and transform it into full size building reconstructions. Luke has particular interest in the Roman, Iron Age, Greek periods and ethnography but his passion will always be the Early Stone Age.

Personal skills include bow making, flint-knapping and building design although he enjoys blacksmithing, pottery and carpentry amongst many other traditional skills.

Contact  atc@dorsetcc.gov.uk or 01725 517618

Paul Grigsby (tutor)

Paul initially came to the ATC for a blacksmithing course in 2006. He returned two years later as part of his foundation degree, but an eight week placement developed into volunteering and his tutor post. He is interested in farming methods from the Iron Age to Norman period. He also enjoys greenwood working ranging from the techniques used during the building of the Longhouse to carving spoons. Along with his wife Steph, and their boys, Paul has developed The Trade Tent – the ATC outlet for products based on archaeological evidence.

Jo Anderson (tutor)

Jo began volunteering at the ATC in June 2009, as the Viking Longhouse construction project was nearing completion. After completing her degree in Ecology and Conservation, she worked as a conservation project officer for BTCV in Sheffield, developing an interest in practical conservation work and rural crafts. More recently, she took up weaving as a hobby, and since joining the ATC has focussed on becoming proficient in the ancient technique of tablet weaving and the use of the warp weighted loom.

Steph Grigsby (tutor)

Steph began volunteering at the ATC when the Longhouse was just a framework back in summer of 2008. While her background is not immersed in history she completed her masters degree in osteoarchaeology and this has informed her understanding of ancient lifestyles. Her interests centre around animals through history and the utilisation of the whole animal on the hoof, on the plate and in the workshop. She has recently developed an interest in leatherworking techniques and the challenge presented by creating historically accurate clothing and accessories.

Reg Miles (tutor)

Reg is an ATC legend.  He joined the centre in 1989 and brought with him many traditional skills and a wealth of knowledge.  Reg had formal training as a blacksmith in his youth and picked up the full range of practical skills from post war Britain, including woodland management, farming and rural life.  His skills are abundant and have shaped many of the unique activities we offer to school groups and although he technically retired in 2003 – he is still a major part of the ATC and somewhat akin to the oracles of Ancient Greece!

Pascale Barnes - Administrator: Pascale joined the ATC in 2007 with a background in office administration. As well as running the office, Pascale has been able to develop her interest in ancient crafts and skills and she occasionally provides cover as a tutor with school groups on both residential and day visits, and also organises and coordinates the public events at the ATC. She speaks fluent English and French, has a good working knowledge of Italian and is currently learning Spanish.
 

Anthony Brown (full time tutor)

After training as an Ecologist and Science teacher, Anthony worked as an education project manager for Groundwork in Hackney and as a conservation project officer for BTCV Wiltshire. Whilst in these jobs and through travel he developed an interest in rural crafts specifically green woodworking, the history of land use, horticulture, permaculture, alternative building techniques, sustainability and traditional ways of living.

Currently Anthony is working on developing the plant side of our horticultural project and developing an adult training programme.

Cara Jenkins (tutor)

Cara joined the ATC in January 2005 as part of her work experience on her Landscape Conservation course at Kingston Maurward, but has never really left. She is a part-time tutor for the school groups.  

Her specialism is “Interpretation” – making learning accessible to all and in a format where everyone is able to take away some essence of their ancient experience at the ATC. Cara particularly enjoys the “hands-on” sensory approach of the work at the ATC (felting, rope-making, weaving, hurdling and grinding) feeling that this is often more far-reaching then pure academia.